, 1887-08-27
PERCEPTION OF THE BLIND.
A Sort Of sixth SENSE" Resulting from
the Union of Hearing and Tonch.

A Sort of sixth Senso," Resulting from
the Union of Hearing and Touch.
The question Is often asked: BY what
means does a person unable to see find
his way from place to place, or know
when to u a corner, or ever keep on
the sidewalk, ETC.? That some such
power is possessed, to a greater or less
degree, by most blind people, is well
known; but Just what it is or how far it
may be carried, few understand; and
even among those using it, to whom it is
a matter of course, a simple everyday
experience, few, if any, have succeeded
in Analysing it satisfactorily. Though
the faculty is as difficult to explain
clearly to those not gifted with it as
would be the perception of the difference
in colors or as sight itself to the blind, l
will try to give some little idea of it for
the benefit of those wishing to learn for
themselves or Others.
1t does not consist, as is sometimes
fancied, in the skillful use of a cane or
the exact memory Of distances, though
these are minor aids. 1t results from the
union of hearing and the sense of touch,
both trained to extraordinary delicacy
and ~habituated to unusual services, COM
ing to form a sort of sixth sense, " as in
%stinctive, instantaneous and trustworthy
in its activity as any of the familiar five.
To illustrate: If you walk rapidly along
a quiet street, listening carefully to your
footsteps, you will notice that the solid
buildings and walls close to the sidewalk
give pack a distinct echo, which instantly
cease at the openings and crossings.
This to the blind is equivalent to light
and shadow, and is in its crudest begin
nings the first element in the ''sixth
sense" above mentioned. Again, if you
walk slowly, in the dark, up against a
wall or closed door, you will feel, just
before striking it, upon the delicate nerves
of the exposed portion of the face a slight
sensation like that which might be pro-
duced by an infinitely fine and light Cos
samer veil. 1t is caused by the increased
compression or resistance of the elastic
air when forced up against one solid body
by the approach of another.
Repeat the experiment, and you find
that the same thing is noticeable at a
greater distance than at first. This is
the germ of the second element already
spoken of. These two perceptions,
blended into one consciousness and
trained to perfection by long years of
practice, enable one to become aware 1T
a considerable distance of any obstacle in
his path, to determine the size and APP
proximate shape of objects he is passing.
to tell the height of a wall without
touching it; in short, to take cognizance
of any and all landmarks necessary in
making his way or finding a given
locality.
This faculty, based upon simple though
generally unfamiliar natural laws, is, in
some of its many forms of application,
the source of most of the seemingly re-
markable feats performed by sightless
persons in this connections; and it is with
thena so habitually in use, so much a
part of daily life, that its exercise is in
stinctive and unconscious, and the blind
scarcely realize that others employ a diff
ferent process to arrive at the same re-
suits. 1t is susceptible of almost i'm
measurable development. The writer
has known a number besides himself who
could count the shade trees when riding
at full gallop along the middle of the
street; tell the difference between a close
or open fence, the distance of buildings
from roadways, etc. The position of
corners, gateways and the like are much
more easily learned. In walking every
thing is of course much nearer, and the
difficulty is greatly diminished. So
every change in sidewalk or fence, every
inequality beneath the feet or smallest
post by the wayside, is a guide, as de-
finite and trustworthy as are'buildings or
signboards to him who sees. -Edward B.
Perry III The Century.